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Carrier AT&T Subsidy for iPhone 6S?

M

melman101

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
2,751
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Hey all,
My wife and I are still rocking the unlimited data plan from AT&T. We both have iPhone 5S's. We are interested in getting the 6S but I have a few questions.

I noticed on Apple's site that their are no more subsidies for AT&T however, on AT&T website, there are still subsidy prices. So I can buy it off AT&T website like normal?

We used to trade in our phones for a gift card at the Apple Store. Does AT&T do something similar?

I'd much rather go for the subsidy pricing then the full price in installments.

Thanks everyone!

Mel
 
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melman101 said:
I'd much rather go for the subsidy pricing then the full price in installments.
Click to expand...
With "subsidized" pricing, you are still paying the full price in installments. It's just hidden in the cost of your plan. But yes, you can buy the phone from AT&T as normal. Sell your older phones on Craigslist to unlock their value.
 
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If you want to go the subsidy route, you will need to get the phones directly from ATT, they've been pulling back in offering subsidized phones. I believe ATT will give you a credit if you want to trade your phone in, but like more retailers accepting trade ins, the amount you get will be meager compared to what you can get by selling it.
 
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chabig said:
With "subsidized" pricing, you are still paying the full price in installments. It's just hidden in the cost of your plan. But yes, you can buy the phone from AT&T as normal. Sell your older phones on Craigslist to unlock their value.
Click to expand...

When I take ATT up on their subsidy for an additional 2 year contract my monthly bill does not go up.

So how am I "paying the full price in installments"?

The cheapest way to buy a phone is still with a two year subsidized contract from ATT. My UDP is alive and well.
 
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Newtons Apple said:
When I take ATT up on their subsidy for an additional 2 year contract my monthly bill does not go up.

So how am I "paying the full price in installments"?

The cheapest way to buy a phone is still with a two year subsidized contract from ATT. My UDP is alive and well.
Click to expand...

Ok cool, so your in the same boat. I think this is gonna be a sh*t show this year.

chabig said:
With "subsidized" pricing, you are still paying the full price in installments. It's just hidden in the cost of your plan. But yes, you can buy the phone from AT&T as normal. Sell your older phones on Craigslist to unlock their value.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I understand that the cost of the phone is hidden inside my plan, but my bill won't go up. If I get the installment plan, my plan charges stay the same because I'm not switching from unlimited and now I'm paying full price for the phone.
 
Newtons Apple said:
When I take ATT up on their subsidy for an additional 2 year contract my monthly bill does not go up.

So how am I "paying the full price in installments?
Click to expand...
AT&T is "loaning" you the money up front to pay for the phone and adding that cost to your mobile plan. That is why you are contractually obligated to stick with the plan for two years or pay an early termination fee.

If you just paid full price using a credit card you would also be contractually obligated to pay off the amount.

The big difference is that when the credit card balance is paid off you're done paying. At the end of AT&T's contract you continue to pay.

Check out AT&T's non-contract plans. You'll see that they cost less because they don't include the cost of the device.

The term "subsidy" was always a misnomer. The user always pays for the device.
 
chabig said:
AT&T is "loaning" you the money up front to pay for the phone and adding that cost to your mobile plan. That is why you are contractually obligated to stick with the plan for two years or pay an early termination fee.

If you just paid full price using a credit card you would also be contractually obligated to pay off the amount.

The big difference is that when the credit card balance is paid off you're done paying. At the end of AT&T's contract you continue to pay.

Check out AT&T's non-contract plans. You'll see that they cost less because they don't include the cost of the device.

The term "subsidy" was always a misnomer. The user always pays for the device.
Click to expand...

Sorry but the cost of my phone service does not go up if I take advantage of this so I consider it to be free of charge and the best deal for me. You think as you wish but it does not cost me anything to take advantage of the subsidized price that ATT offers me.

Does not really matter as I will be paying full price to APPLE and not ATT for my 6S+
 
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Yeah unlimited is where its at.

Also wonder, if 6s/6s+ are only subsidized through AT&T, doesn't AT&T get way less inventory than apple store? like, shockingly? both online but also particularly in store.

this launch will be interesting, and i'm curious to see how sales numbers are since a lot of Americans in particular think of subsidy as the barrier entry or no bueno. Unlocked prices make a lot of people laugh.


I got my 6+ 64 unsubsidized though, upgrade eligible, debating what to do.

jailbreak and good quality screen (winning the screen lottery) are both key, might stay put for a while.
 
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Damn I just checked my upgrade eligibility. 9/21. I'm gonna have to talk to AT&T and see if they can move that up.
 
chabig said:
AT&T is "loaning" you the money up front to pay for the phone and adding that cost to your mobile plan. That is why you are contractually obligated to stick with the plan for two years or pay an early termination fee.

If you just paid full price using a credit card you would also be contractually obligated to pay off the amount.

The big difference is that when the credit card balance is paid off you're done paying. At the end of AT&T's contract you continue to pay.

Check out AT&T's non-contract plans. You'll see that they cost less because they don't include the cost of the device.

The term "subsidy" was always a misnomer. The user always pays for the device.
Click to expand...

That is completely false.
Noncontract plans when you factor in the $450 in subsidies that you lose per line they are not cheaper than old 2 year contract plans.
I fact it would cost me twice the amount of what I pay now over a 2 year period on my family plan to go to unsubsidized plans and buy my phones every 2 years or make payments on them with next.
Check out this thread and educate yourself before thinking mobile share plans will save you money. They do not.
They rip you off. I see people like you buying into the false promises of carriers that mobile share is cheaper.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...om-their-website.1908154/page-2#post-21727322
 
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Pretty sure you can upgrade once you hit the month of your upgrade. Meaning if you upgrade date is 9/21 you should be able to upgrade starting on 9/1
 
Last year I went to the AT&T store at 10 AM on pre-order day and ordered 2 phones for launch day with no issues. AT&T can't deliver to my address because their system doesn't acknowledge it as being correct. So I always have to do in store pick-up. Odd I know. Apple has no issues shipping to me as long as it is not attached to my AT&T account.
 
So, nothing beats unlimited data, we all know this. But when I switched to the next plan, I was paying almost the exact amount with the same data and with AT&T's new promotion i'm getting 15gb for the same price. I've been on the next plan for two years now and the easiest way for me has been to pay AT&T the remaining balance around this time, unlock my phone with AT&T and preorder the new iPhone at 3:00am come preorder day. New iPhone shows up, and the old one gets sold on E bay/Craigslist with at least $200 profit over the trade-in price that AT&T offers(your remaining balance). Subsidies are cool but for the 6 plus I would have to pay $400 up front, then my bill be practically the same thing?
 
slippery-pete said:
Pretty sure you can upgrade once you hit the month of your upgrade. Meaning if you upgrade date is 9/21 you should be able to upgrade starting on 9/1
Click to expand...

At the beginning of the renewal month, the AT&T renewal date will reset to the first day of the renewal month.

This can be confirmed by checking OLAM after September 1.
 
Newtons Apple said:
When I take ATT up on their subsidy for an additional 2 year contract my monthly bill does not go up.

So how am I "paying the full price in installments"?

The cheapest way to buy a phone is still with a two year subsidized contract from ATT. My UDP is alive and well.
Click to expand...

You are correct!
 
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cousintim said:
At the beginning of the renewal month, the AT&T renewal date will reset to the first day of the renewal month.

This can be confirmed by checking OLAM after September 1.
Click to expand...

Who or what is this "OLAM"?

Here is what I found:
"OLAM is a collaborative venture and shared platform to promote global Jewish service and international development."
 
cousintim said:
At the beginning of the renewal month, the AT&T renewal date will reset to the first day of the renewal month.

This can be confirmed by checking OLAM after September 1.
Click to expand...
I just checked and you are correct. Earlier it showed 09/21/15, now it says I am eligible to upgrade. Awesome.
 
melman101 said:
Damn I just checked my upgrade eligibility. 9/21. I'm gonna have to talk to AT&T and see if they can move that up.
Click to expand...
Maybe you can "Rock" your wife for the few weeks you may have to wait till you can "Rock" new phones.:cool:
 
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